Martha Jefferson Randolph to Jane H. Nicholas Randolph

Dear Jane

[ca. 9–13 May 1825]

Ellen is still very sick this morning not at all able to stand to try on her peticoats this has brought to mind a subject
that has been talked over between us, considering how often she is sick and how violent
her attacks are, that she will pass through all the great towns making some stay in
each, where of course she will be visited & dressing and visiting; she will suffer very much for the want of a maid, both in
health and in sickness, so probable on her long journey. she wishes that one of your sisters would write to know where Charlotte is? having heard that she is no longer in Mrs Smiths service, and if it would be possible to get her for the journey and to stay with her till she went to house keeping. she would then payherexpensesback, if she did not determine to keep her, which I think my self the most probable but to leave her self more latitude upon that subject
she would engage her only for some months paying her by the month. if she can be procured on those terms
she would let her know when she would want her and have her to meet her in Washington at Sister R—s probably some time in June, when we can not yet determine. Mr C— will probably be here the latter end of next week or the [. . .]beginning of the week after. till he comes we kcan know nothing of future arrangements but I presume if one of your sisters will be
good enough to write immediately there may be time still to settle that matter.

adieu yours in great haste but allways most affectionately

RC (Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX, 2015); edge chipped; unsigned, in the hand of Martha Jefferson Randolph; undated, with date editorially conjectured based on Joseph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 9 May 1825; on the recto and verso of an address cover for an unidentified letter to Thomas Jefferson.